Chrysanthemum plant named Geos

ABSTRACT

A Chrysanthemum plant named Geos having large, fully double, creamy white ray florets, compact growth habit, nine week flowering response, and excellent performance under low light conditions.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, hereinafter referred to by the cultivar nameGeos.

Geos is a product of a planned breeding program which had the objectiveof creating new Chrysanthemum cultivars with large white decorativeflowers, excellent growth habit and pot plant performance under lowlight winter conditions. Such traits in combination were not present orneeded improvement in previously available commercial cultivars.

Geos was originated from a hybridization made by applicants in acontrolled breeding program in Ahrensburg, Federal Republic of Germanyin 1978. The male and female parents were unnamed seedlings. Geos wasdiscovered and selected as one flowering plant within the progeny of thestated parentage by applicants in 1978 in a controlled environment inAhrensburg, Federal Republic of Germany.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Geos was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in 1979 in acontrolled environment in Ahrensburg, Federal Republic of Germany by atechnician working under formulations established and supervised byapplicants. Horticultural examination of selected units initiated in1979 has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as hereindisclosed for Geos are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Geos, which in combination distinguish thisChrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Nine week response period.

2. Compact growth habit.

3. Creamy white flower color.

4. Fully double flower with no disc florets present.

5. Diameter of capitulum 8-13 cm.

6. Florets range up to 55 mm at outer edge of capitulum (fully expandedpetals).

7. Superior keeping and shipping quality.

8. Finished height 25-30 cm from top edge of the pot depending upongrowing conditions.

9. Excellent low light performance.

Geos has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions.The phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity, and day length.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Parrish, Fla. under greenhouse conditions which approximatethose generally used in commercial practice.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventors, themost similar in comparison to Geos is Mt. Snow. In comparison to Mt.Snow, Geos has a creamier flower color, more compact habit, and is one(1) week earlier in flowering.

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical inflorescense andfoliage characteristics of Geos, with colors being as nearly true aspossible with illustrations of this type. The photograph is in black andwhite, with two flowers being colored to accurately depict the immatureand mature ray floret colors.

In the following description color references are made to the RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 3:45 and 4:00 p.m. on Sept. 9, 1987 under fluorescent lightingat Parrish, Fla.

Classification:

Botanical.--Chrysanthemum morifolium, cv. Geos.

Commercial.--Decorative pot.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Double.

Diameter across face.--8-13 cm.

B. Corolla of ray florets

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--White.

Color (upper surface).--Immature ray florets 8C; mature, fully expandedray florets 155B.

Color (under surface).--Immature ray florets 8D; mature, fully expandedray florets 155B.

C. Corolla of disc florets: None present.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--Absent.

Gynoecium.--Present in ray florets.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--Finished height 25-30 cm from top edge of the pot dependingupon growing conditions.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--147A.

Color (under surface).--147B.

Shape.--Ovate, deeply lobed and slightly serrate margins.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant namedGeos, as illustrated and described, and parts thereof.